Union Rat Comes To Ocean Grande

The development company bills it as “Your Castle In The Sand,” but union workers who came to Beach 117 Street to protest the union’s claim that the company building the Ocean Grande building uses “unskilled, undocumented day laborers” say that Rockaway is being disrespected by those building the luxury condominiums between Beach 116 Street and Beach 117 Street right on the Ocean Promenade. “For years, the hard-working, tax-paying people of Rockaway have been waiting patiently for the redevelopment of our community,” one union official said. “Now we get out-of-town developers using substandard building materials.” Pat Donaghy, an unemployed construction worker said that the would like to work at the site, but that union workers have been shut out. The protest was called by the Queens Building Trades Council, and members from many different unions were present. Chris Kelley, from Broad Channel, says that the council tried discussing the problem with the developers, but that they would not talk with the unions. Calls to the developer for comment on the union’s charges went unreturned. Pictured, members of various unions and local residents join in front of the union rat.